Collapsible dispensing tube



W. EPHRON COLLAPSIBLE DISPENSING TUBE Jan. 3, 1956 Filed June 21, 1950 INVENTOR. WAL TER EPHRON United States Patent COLLAPSIBLE DISPENSING TUBE Walter Ephron, New York, N. Y. Application June 21, 1950, Serial No. 169,465

2 Claims. (Cl. 22292) This invention relates to improvements in dispensing tubes of the type in common use as containers for toothpaste, shaving cream and the like.

The dispening tubes in general use at present are provided with a detachable, threaded cap which serves to maintain a substantially air-tight seal over the contents of the tube. Replacing of the cap often proves a nuisance, especially if several tubes are in use and the associated caps scattered about; the caps are, in consequence, frequently misplaced and lost. Furthermore, owing to the nature of the material contained'in the tubes, the threads engaging the cap soon become caked and make replacement of the cap a tedious and irritating task.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dispensing tube in which the foregoing objections are overcome.

More specifically, it is an object of the present inven tion to provide in a dispensing tube closure means nondetachably secured to the tube so as to preclude the possibility of loss or misplacement.

Another object is to provide an improved dispensing tube facilitating the application of toothpaste or similar substances to a toothbrush or other receiving surface.

A further object is to provide an improved dispensing tube in which a maximum amount of protection from the atmosphere and other contaminating agencies is afforded the contents of the tube.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensing tube in which the period during which any portion of the contents is exposed to the air is greatly reduced.

Yet another object is to preserve economy and ease of manufacture in a tube according to the foregoing.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become evident from the following description of certain embodiments thereof taken with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a cross section through the top of a tube according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the tube shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section through the top of a modified form of tube in accordance with the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a side view of a variation of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, there is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a dispensing tube, indicated generally at 10, comprising a substantially cylindrical, pliable metal body 11 merging with a collar 12 of greater rigidity, the collar forming at its center an externally threaded tip or nipple 13. The arrangement thus far described is common to the majority of dispensing tubes presently in use, the body 12 being squeezed to force the contents of the tube into the nipple 13. According to the instant invention, however, the mouth of the nipple '13 is sealed by a plug 14 seated therewithin, the plug forming a flange 15 projecting beyond the nipple.

In the side of the nipple there is provided a circular opening 16, the top of which lies flush with the bottom 0f the plug 14, thereby substantially eliminating any waste space adjacent the plug 14 in which matter would otherwise accumulate. Completely covering the circular opening and threadedly engaging the nipple 13 is a cylindrical nut 17 which, in the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 1, abuts the flange 15 of the plug 14. The length of the nipple 13 and the height of the nut 17 are proportioned so that the nut may be screwed down into the position shown dotted in Fig. 1 (the position illustrated in Fig. 2) uncovering the opening 16 while abutting the collar 12. Suflicient clearance between the nut 16 and the circular opening is allowed to avoid interference between the nut and the intended receiver, for example a toothbrush. At the same time, the height of the nut 17 is made great enough so that in the closed position the nut engages a threaded portion of the nipple above and below the opening 16, thereby insuring an air-tight seal.

Since the nut 17 and the nipple 13 are always in engagement, covering or uncovering the opening 16 becomes a matter of great simplicity and may easily be engineered with one hand by turning the nut 17 with the thumb while holding the tube 10 in the hand. Accordingly, the inconvenience involved in sealing the opening is largely removed, and the contents of the tube will be exposed to the atmosphere only for the short period during which a portion of the material is being squeezed out of the opening. This period of time will, in practice, be so short that the contents will not ordinarily cake on the threads of the nipple and movement of the nut 17 will be unimpeded. Furthermore, since no appreciable caking of the threads take place, it becomes possible to utilize a tighter fitting nut than would ordinarily be possible, the caking of conventional tubes necessitating a looser mating to avoid binding. Consequently, the air-tight sealing of the arrangement proposed in the instant invention will prove more efiicient than those now in use. Contamination of the contents will likewise be greatly reduced, especially that ordinarily caused by the intrusion of the decayed, cake material into the tube.

It will be noted that the improved design herein set forth may be incorporated with a minimum of difliculty and expense in conventional tubes, economy of manufacture being a basic consideration of the invention. The plug '14 need not take the shape specifically illustrated; it is necessary only that the mouth of the nipple be sealed in any manner, as, for example, by fusion, and an abutment such as a flange, binding thread or deformation be provided near the top of the nipple to prevent movement of the nut 17 beyond that point. The particular expedients chosen to effect these ends will, of course, depend largely upon the extent of retooling such cxpedients will entail.

Fig. 3 shows a cross section of a tube in which the foregoing principles have been employed, a helical channel being provided within the nipple and communicating with an opening in the side of the nipple to gain advantages to be described. A pliable metal body 111 merges with a collar 112 of greater rigidity, the center of the collar forming an externally threaded tip or nipple 113 on which rides a cylindrical nut 117; these elements find their analogues in Figs. 1 and 2. Nipple 113, however, is of essentially solid cross section save for a channel 120, shaped in the form of approximately 4 turn of a helix, which communicates between the side of the nipple, forming therein a roughly elliptical opening 116, and the contents of the tube. The bottom of the opening 116 lies a short distance above the collar 112, thus allowing nut 117, when moved into position abutting the collar 112, to engage a portion of the nipple above and below the opening. No terminating flange or binding thread is shown to keep the nut 117 from leaving the thread; in practice none will be needed since the normal (closed) position of the nut will bring it into abutment with the collar 112 and the nut need only be moved through a fraction of its total allowable travel to clear the opening 116 during use, making loss of the nut quite unlikely.

The direct communication of the channel 120 with the opening 116 obviates the need for a plug such as shown at 14, Figs. 1 and 2, and eliminates the possibility of waste accumulations in the corners of the plug. The helical shape herein disclosed serves to preform the material as it passes through the channel, causing the material to assume a helical shape, as shown in dotdash lines at 121, upon leaving the tube. This shape particularly facilitates, say, the application of toothpaste to a toothbrush since the toothpaste will be clear of the nut 117, thereby avoiding interference between the brush and the nut. The shape is of further particular benefit when used with tubes containing spreads, allowing the paste to be spread on sandwiches without having the latter touch the tube, and simplifying the operation by causing the paste to emerge substantially in front, rather than to the side, of the tube.

In Fig. 4 there is shown in plan view a structure similar to that shown in Fig. 3 except that the roughly elliptical opening in the side of the nipple is placed nearer the top than the bottom of the nipple. In exact operative correspondence with their analogous elements in Fig. 3, there are shown a pliable metal body 211, a collar 212, a nipple 213 and a nut 217. A helical channel 220 communicates with the side of the nipple 213, termimating in a roughly elliptical opening 216. The chip tical opening 216 is placed near the top of the nipple, permitting a greater length of helical channel and an improved preforming action. Since the cylindrical nut 217 in the closed position will lie near the top of the nipple, a flange 215 is provided on the nipple to preclude the possibility of loss of the nut.

The structure of Fig. 4 functions in precisely the same fashion as described in connection with Fig. 3. The flange 215 may, of course, again be replaced by any suitable means for limiting the travel of the nut 217, such as by narrowing the thread at the top of the nipple or deforming the upper end thereof.

The design of the structures shown in Figs. 3 and 4 has again been carried on with an eye to economy of manufacture. The channels 120, 220 may be produced, for example, by molding the nipple about a helical core which may thereafter be removed. The remainder of the tube is of conventional shape and may be produced as before.

It will be understood that the embodiments herein described are for purposes of illustration only and are subject to many modifications and variations without exceeding the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a dispensing tube, in combination, a deformable body and a nipple rigidly secured to said body, said nipple having a channel forming a substantially helical convolution throughout its length, said channel communicating with the interior of said body and emerging laterally from said nipple.

2. In a dispensing tube, in combination, a deformable body, a nipple integral with said body, said nipple having a threaded portion and being provided with a channel forming a substantially helical convolution throughout its length, said channel communicating with the interior of said body and terminating in a lateral opening in said threaded portion, said channel being of substantially constant cross section up to and including said opening, said nipple having a closed extremity remote from said interior, and a threaded ring engaging said threaded portion, said ring being displaceable on said threaded portion between a first position obstructing said opening and a second position uncovering said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 528,565 Schwiebert Nov. 6, 1894 707,320 Hall Aug. 19, 1902 835,573 Stewart Nov. 13, 1906 1,512,503 Semmes, Jr. Oct. 21, 1924 1,537,010 Herschmann May 5, 1925 1,593,025 MacDonald July 20, 1926 1,632,087 Lillford June 14, 1927 1,834,877 Stanton Dec. 1, 1931 

